Christian Foundations (8) - Water Baptism

The 3 Foundational Baptisms: (1) BAPTISM into CHRIST by the Holy Spirit. (2) BAPTISM in WATER by representatives of the Church, and (3) BAPTISM in the SPIRIT by Jesus Christ. WATER BAPTISM is a Sacrament - a symbolic physical act, that has a spiritual effect. BAPTISM in WATER is commanded upon all believers, for them to testify outwardly and publicly of their Baptism into Christ (which happens at the moment of salvation). In Water Baptism we act out what God has done in our spirit, when we were baptised into Christ. We were identified with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. Our old spirit-man was crucified and buried with Christ, and we were raised with Christ as a new man into a new life. In Baptism, we confess our faith, testifying to what God has done for us and in us, which releases God's Power in our life (Romans 10:10). You have to be saved (be a believer) before being baptised. Infant baptism is not biblical. Biblical Baptism is Believer’s Baptism: “He who (1) BELIEVES and is (2) BAPTISED will be saved” (Mark 16:16). The word ‘BAPTISM’ means to IMMERSE, like a garment dipped into a die. The result of this union is permanent change. Thus by definition, Baptism must be by full immersion. Water Baptism is a picture of our death, burial and resurrection with Christ, which is why God ordained it to be by full immersion. Sprinkling with water is a man-made substitute (tradition), which does not fulfil the picture. Christ COMMANDS all His disciples to be BAPTISED in WATER, as their ordained act of obedience and public testimony that they are a follower of Christ. Thus it is not an optional extra. Water Baptism is an act of obedience to Christ. To refuse baptism is disobedience. Jesus Himself was baptised to give us an EXAMPLE to follow, and said it was the RIGHT thing to do (Matthew 3:13-16). Jesus was already righteous, so His Baptism was not to make Him righteous, but to ‘fulfil all righteousness’ in His life (it was an important act of obedience to God). Jesus was bringing in a new kind of